Bruce has already begun drafting plans for the summer after a quiet conclusion to the January window and Livermore, who is ineligible to face parent club Spurs this afternoon, will be among his top targets.

“The last thing we wanted to do was to lose Jake (in January) because we’d like to do something permanently if we possibly can,” said Bruce, ahead of Spurs’ visit today.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be possible this month but it’s still the case that we’d like to bring him to the club, that hasn’t changed.

“I get the impression he’s happy here because he wants to be playing every week.

“If you’ve got something about you, like Jake has, the last thing you want to do at this stage of his career is go somewhere and not play regularly, when you’ve become used to playing week in and week out.”

It is understood City have the option to buy Livermore this summer as part of his loan deal agreed in August, but the set valuation written into the deal would need to be reduced.

As well as moving out Tom Cairney (Blackburn), Aaron Mclean (Bradford), Cameron Stewart (Leeds) and loaning Nick Proschwitz to Barnsley, Danny Graham and Jack Hobbs also saw their time at the KC Stadium ended yesterday.

Graham’s season-long loan from Sunderland was curtailed to allow him to join Middlesbrough, while Nottingham Forest also finally landed their man when signing Hobbs on a four and a half year contract for a figure close to £1m.

“On the whole I’m very pleased with what we’ve done in January, of course I am. I’m delighted with what we’ve done,” said Bruce.

“Over the last couple of weeks we’ve brought in two players (Jelavic and Long) who have come straight into the team and will improve us.

“From what I saw the other night (1-0 loss at Palace), I know we didn’t score, but we looked more of a threat than we have done.

“They need time to gel and work together but I’ve been very, very pleased with the two of them.”

Comments

I expect that this is the priority of many Hull City fans. The way in which Jake Livermore links up with Tom Huddlestone gives the midfield its strength; he's worth signing for that on field relationship alone, but he also brings some positive aspects to the Tigers overall presence on the pitch.